A new wine bar and bistro is about to open its doors in Hull’s Fruit Market.

J Johnsons wine bar, bistro and deli will be officially opening in Humber Street on Saturday, making its festive debut ahead of a full launch in the New Year.

J Johnsons is the latest venture from business partners Chris Eastaugh, Jason Gittens and Dan Robinson, owners of the successful Butler Whites restaurant in Humber Street and popular Larkin’s gastro pub in Newland Avenue, west Hull.

Jason said: “We’ve decided to have an extended soft launch for J Johnsons, so people can pay us a visit and enjoy the food, drinks, service and ambience before we launch in earnest.

“The run up to Christmas is such a busy time for us, so our chefs will be serving our current Butler Whites menu until we launch J Johnsons’ own menu in January.

“We want to make sure everything is absolutely perfect for our customers, so we don’t want to rush the new menu for the sake of a few weeks.”

The downstairs wine bar will be table service only with staff offering a mouth-watering selection of deli plates, featuring the likes of cured venison carpaccio, with carrot and clementine marmalade and glazed walnuts; and baked Christmas camembert, dressed with dried sweet cranberries, pistachios and pumpkin seeds.

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Diners in the first-floor restaurant will be served from the Butler Whites menu until the venue’s official launch in January, when a distinctive new menu will be revealed.

A range of high-quality wines, champagnes and spirits complement the menu alongside a good selection of draught and bottled beers including Poretti 3, Jever, Brugse Zot, Hiver, San Miguel and Wold Gold.

This piano and wine cabinet is one of the features of the Fruit Market’s new J Johnsons wine bar (Image: Jack Harland)

Cocktails include a Pea and Elderflower Cooler - Stolichnaya vodka and gin muddled with fresh petit pois, cucumber, elderflower and tarragon; and house special J Johnsons Royale – Stolichnaya Vodka and Stolichnaya Vanil shaken with apple juice, salted caramel and topped with Prosecco.

Chris said: “We’re really happy with how it has all come together and excited to be launching our second venue in the Fruit Market.

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“We love the area and we felt this was the perfect place to create a venue that complements Butler Whites and others in the area.

“The building has so much character and has been beautifully restored, so our fit-out has been designed to make the very most of the setting and contribute to an amazing atmosphere. We’re looking forward to seeing and hearing people’s reactions to it.”

The ground-floor wine bar at J Johnsons (Image: Jack Harland)

J Johnsons is named after the late Jack Johnson, a legendary figure from when the Fruit Market was the centre of Hull’s wholesale fruit and veg trade. It features exposed brickwork, vaulted ceilings, aged chandeliers and framed prints of historic Humber Street.

Chequered tiles line the floor in front of the bar, which features jade green metro-style tiles, while the décor also features copper radiators, ornate mirrors and industrial railings.

The first-floor bistro at J Johnsons which has been created by the comprehensive restoration of a previously derelict fruit and veg warehouse (Image: Jack Harland)

With seating for 76 diners in total, the 1,800 sq ft venue will create up to 25 new jobs, ranging from chefs and waiting staff to bartenders and experienced wine waiters.

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